Safety release mechanism for wringers



G. H JANTZ March 1, 1932.

SAFETY RELEASE MECHANTSM FOR WRINGERS Filed Sept. 20, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet ATTORNEY Marcii 1, "i932. G H, A TZ 1,847,186

SAFETY RELEASE MECHANISM FOR WRINGERS Filed Sept. 20, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE Y Patented Mar. 1, 1932 GUST-AVE H. JANTZ, OF WYOMING, OHIO SAFETY RELEASE MECHANISM FOR W'R'INGEBS Application tiled September 20, 1929. Serial No. 394,018.

My invention relates to safety release mechanism for wringers, and has for its object the provision of novel quick releasing mechanism whereby pressure between the rolls is instantly released and safety separation between the rolls effected.

It is the object of my invention further to provide novel quickly releasable latching mechanism at one end of the machine; further, to provide novel means whereby the top-bar of the machine is releasably connected at one end to one end of the stationary portion of the frame of the machine and novel quickly releasable latching means are provided between the other end of the topbar and the other end of said stationary por tion, causing upward tilting movement of the top-bar at the latching end of the topbar for causing disengaging movement in the releasable connecting means at the other end of the machine; and, further, to provide such mechanism with a leaf-spring exerting pressure at its respective ends upon the respective ends of the rolls and having swivel connection with the top-bar for aiding in such upward swinging movement of the top bar.

. It is the object of my invention further to provide a quick safety releasing means comprising a handle-arm which normally extends lengthwise of the top-bar and a cam under the top-bar operated by the handlearm, and arranged for operative connection with an endwise movable tripper-rod extending outwardly from the top-bar for tripping the latching means and releasing the top-bar.

The invention will be further readily understood from the following description and claims, and from the drawings, in which latter:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved device.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional detail view of the same, taken on the same section line.

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view showing the hanging of the upper roll, taken in the plane of the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of my improveddevice, taken in the plane of the irregular line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section of a modification of m improved device, taken on the line 7-7 of ig. 8, and partly broken away.

Fig. 8 is an end view of the same; and,

Fig. 9 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional detail view of the same, taken on the line 77 of Fig. 8.

The frame of the machine comprises endposts 11, 12, which are preferably hollow and substantially square in cross-section for providing upright channels 13, 14, in said posts. A lower connecting bar 15 has its respective ends rigidly secured to the lower ends of the respective posts. These parts may be of metal and may be formed up out of sheet metal.

Lower bearing-blocks 17 are suitably supported in the upright channels of the end-. posts and form stationarily positioned bearings for the respective ends of'a shaft 18 of the lower roll 19. This shaft may have a formation 20 at one end thereof with which a suitable driving mechanism, which may be manual or power, has suitable connectionfor rotating the lower roll.

The upper roll 21 has a shaft 22, the respective end journals of which are received in bearing holes of bearing-blocks 23 received in the upright channels of the end posts. The rolls areshown provided with traction sections 24, for aiding in rotating the upper roll by means of the lower roll.

The upper. bearings are provided wit-h bails 28 received over the respective ends of a leaf-spring 29. These hails may be of wire and have depending portions 30, the lower ends of which have inturned pivoting ends 31 received in apertures in the inner walls of grooves 32 at the respective ends of said bearings, the depending portions of the loops being received in said grooves.

The spring is shown somewhat bowed, having a higher middle portion and lower end portions. The end portions of the spring 100 rest on the upper faces of the upper bearings and are provided with holding means, for instance grooves 33, for receiving the upper stretches of the bails 28.

The frame of the machine comprises a topbar 35 which is shown of inverted channel form having a to wall'36, side walls 37 and end walls 38, 39, orming an elongated downi ference with the top-bar.

' wardly presented pocket 40 in said top-bar.

-The top-bar is rovided at approximately its middle with a aring 41, pre erably fixed thereto by screws and nuts 42, 43. A rocker sleeve 45 is j ournaled in the bearing 41. The

lower end of this rocker-sleeve is formed as a cam 46, rovided with a cam-lobe 47, there being pre erably a pair of these cam-lobes.

The upper end of the sleeve has handle-arms 51 extending therefrom preferably normally lengthwise of the top-bar. There may be one or a pair of these handle-arms. The handlearm is provided with a hub 52 which is secured to the sleeve so as to rotate the sleeve therewith, shown accomplished by providing the upper end of the sleeve with a reduced squared portion received in a complementally formed socket in the hub. A pin 53 is in the hub and the upper end of the sleeve for" middle portion of thespring for connecting the socket-piece with said spring. The handle-arms 51 are preferably up-turned, as

' shown at 61, for raising the outer ends of said handle-arms above the top-bar 35, so that the hand of the operator may have free movement for operating said handle-arms without inter- The upper end 0 the rod 55 is provided with a handle 62, shown as a wing-handle having a socket. The upper end of the rod is provided with a reduced portion which is preferably square in cross-section, the'crosssectional form of the ivall 0f the socket being complemental thereto. A pin 63 is received in the Wall of said socket and in said reduced portion for fixing the handle and the rod together. I

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive there is a spring 68 at the end of the machine, the

. lower end of which is secured to the outer end wall of the end post at said end of the machine, as by means of rivets 69. This spring is preferably a leaf-spring and extends upwardly along the outer face of the outer end wall ofone of the end posts and is At the other end ofthe machine there is a releasable-1 connection between the upright post at said end and the other end of the topbar. This is accomplished by providing the outer end wall of said other upright post with a pin preferably rigidly secured to said outer end wall, as by upsetting the same therein. The complemental end-wall 39 of the topbar is provided with a hole 76 complemental to said pin. The pin is preferably short so that ready release of the top-bar at said end maybe had by moving said end wall outwardly with relation to said end post, said movement being preferably a tipping move- -ment, effected in the release of the top-bar.

The end wall of the top-bar at the latch 7 0 is provided with a hole 77 through which the outer end of an endwise movable rod 78 is arranged to project and to be urged outwardly. by the cam 46 for moving the upper end of the spring 68 outwardly and thereby release the latch 70. As soon as such release takes place, upward tilting movement of the top-bar is caused. A spring 81, shown as a spiral spring, received about the tripper-rod 78 between a washer 82 held to said rod by a pin 83 at one end of said spring, the other end of said spring being resisted for normally moving said tripper-rod inwardly toward the cam 46. The outward movement of said tripper-rod by either lobe of the cam causes the release of the latch 70.

The tripper-rod slides endwise in bearings 84 in depending flanges 85 of a yoke 86 secured to the upper wall of the top-bar by screws and nuts 87, 42, the screw 42 passing through a flange 88 of the bearing 41 for securing said flange and said yoke to the upper wall of the cross-bar.

Endwise movement of the tripper-rod causes compression of the sprin 81, the outer end of the tripper-rod prefera ly cooperating with an upward extension 91 of the spring 68. The spring 68 acts upon said tripper-rod and as soon as the latch is released the tripper-rod moves upwardly along said upward extension and a reactive lengthwise movement of the top-bar toward the opposite end of the machine takes place for aiding in release of the releasable connection at the other end of the machine, namely, the release of the wall of the hole 7 6 from the pin 75, whereby the top-bar is completely separated from the stationary partof the machine.

Such movement is also aided by the upward force applied by the spring 29, and the swivel connection between said spring and the screw-rod, which permits read tilting movement of the top-bar and aids in ready release of the releasable connection at the other end of the top-bar.

Pressure between the rolls is thus completely released at both ends and throughout the length of the rolls and the reactive movement of the spring 29 causes forceful upward movement of the top-bar, carrying the spring -29 with it, and also raising the bearingsfor the upper roll by the connection of the bails 28 thereof (with the respective ends of the spring 29. Complete release of pressure and spacing between the rolls takes place so that the fingers or hand of the operator and undue thickness of goods or other article or part, for instance clothing or hair of the operator, may bewithdrawn from between the rolls without 1n3ury,

Movement of the releasing cam is effected in either direction at either end and from either side of the machine, and the handle arms extend freel above the top-bar so that? the same are free or ready grasping or pushin or pulling by the operator. v

Ihe upper end of the spring 68 is provided with an outward curve 92 to form an inner endwise therefrom, the lug preferably having a lower sloping end face 7 3'. This lug may be struck up from the metal of the end wall or it may be in the form of a pin which is fixed to the end wall.

The spring 68' is provided with a hole 71 in which the lug is received, the upper wall of the lug bearing upon the upper wall of the hole for latching the top-bar in place. The upper end of the spring is preferably provided with an outward curve 92' similar to the outward curve 92 and for a similar purpose.

In assembling my improved device, the upper roll 21 is mounted in its bearings 23. the bails 28 of said bearings being received about the ends of the spring 29 and seated in the grooves 33 therein. The bearings are placed in the channels of the upright posts, the upper roll resting upon the lower roll. The screwrod 55 is reversely rotated for providing relief of pressure between the top-bar and the spring and permitting ready seating of the top-bar upon the end upright posts.

The top-bar is placed upon the end upright posts andtilted for placing the wall of the hole 76 in the end wall 39 about the pin 7 This causes the lower edge of the other end handle-arm is pushed forwardly or pulled ward and press upon the spring 68 for releasof the top-bar to be received about the up er end of the other upri ht post, the lower edge of said other end of t e top-bar resting upon the upper outwardly inclined wall of the spring. A sharp blow of the fist upon the upper face of the end of the top-bar adjacent the spring will cause seating between the latch and the keeper at said end of the top-bar.

The relation of the parts when assembled are shown in the drawings. The lobes of the cam 46 extend at right angles to the handlearms 51, the handle-arms extending lengthwiseof the top-bar. The inner end of the tripper-rod preferably contacts the low point of the cam for aiding in maintaining the cam and the handle-arms in their desired neutral or inactive relations.

When now it is desired to release the top-- bar, for instance, for avoiding accident, either rearwardly from either side of the wringer,

whereby one face of one of the cams rides upon ,the inner end of the tripper-rod for causing the tripper-rod to move axially out; 7

ing the latch 70.

Upon release of the latch, the top-bar springs upwardly, due to release of pressure between the rolls 21 and 19, caused by release of pressure of the screw-rod 55 upon the middle portion of the spring 29. The release of the latch causes a tilting movement 01 the top-bar by the action of the middle portion of the spring 29 upon the screw-rod 55 in the middle portion of the top-bar for tilting the top.-bar, due to momentary resistance of the pin 75 upon the other end of the top-bar.

The tilting movement of the top-bar, however, and the reaction of the quick forceful release thereof, causes disengagement between the end wall of the top-bar and the pin 75, for releasing the top-bar entirely and permitting upward movement of the entire top-bar. This upward movement is a quick forceful movement which ordinarily would no cause the top-bar to fly upwardly away from p the balance of the wringer-frame.

In order to employ this inertia of motion of the top-bar for further relief of pressure between the wringer-rolls, the bearings of the upper wringer-roll are hung upon the spring 29, which is in turn swiveled to the screw-rod 55, threaded in the rocker-sleeve 45 of the cam 46, rotating in the top-bar,

whereby the spring, the bearings and the upper roll are moved upwardly for separation between the upper roll and the lower roll.

My improved device is extremely effective in affording quick and instant release of pressure between the wringer-rolls, initiated by simple movement of prominent parts of the wringer frame, the manual movement being in a direction which is natural for the operator to employ, and the relief afforded is instant, and is provided by simple mechaends of said upright posts, said top-bar aving a top wall, depending side walls and depending end walls forming a hollow structure the hollow of which is presented downwardly as a canopy, the upper ends of said upright posts respectively received in the respective hollow ends of said structure, a releasable connection between one of said end upright posts and one of said end walls,-and latching means between-the other end of said frame and the other end wall of said top bar comprising a resilient member having connection with said lastnamed end of said frame and located outside said last-named end of said frame and said last-named end wall and provided with latching parts located below the level of said top wall of said top-bar.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame comprising end upright posts, a top-bar between the upper ends of said upright posts, said top-bar having a top wall, side walls and end walls for formin a hollow structure the hollow of which is presented downwardly, the upper ends'of said upright posts respectively received in the respective ends of said hollow, a releasable connection between one of said end walls and one of said end upright posts, latching means between the other end wall of said top-bar and said wringer frame, a cam in said hollow, said cam provided with a hub having an upright axis, a bearing on said upper wall in which said hub is j0ur nalcd, said hub rovided with a handle-arm normally extend ing lengthwise of said top bar and having an operating portion spaced from said top-bar, said cam provided with a lobe extending at substantially right angles to said handle-arm, an end-wise movable tripper-rod in said hollow, said end wall adjacent said latching means provided with an aperture through which the outer end of said tripper-rod is arranged to project, guiding 'means in said hollow for said tripper-rod,

and a spring for retracting said tripper-rod inwardly toward said cam, and said cam ar ranged for moving said tripper-rod endwise for releasing said latching means.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame comprising a stationary part including end upright posts and a releasable top-bar between the upper ends of said posts, an upper wringer roll and a lower wringer roll, bearings in said frame for the respective ends of said rolls, a leafspring under said top-bar, the respective ends end of said stationary part and the other end of said top-bar, and releasing means for said latching means comprising a cam' journaled with an upright axis in said top-bar, a handle-arm projecting from said cam above said top-bar, and a tripper-rod in said top-bar arranged to project outwardly endwise below the top of said top-bar, said cam arranged to move said tripper-rod endwise, and said tripper-rod acting on said latch to release said latch for tilting movement of said topbar to release said releasable connecting means, and for separating movement between said wringer rolls.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame comprising a lower frame part including end upright posts, and a top-bar between the upper ends of said upright posts, said top-bar having a top wall, depending side walls and depending end walls forming a hollow structure the hollow of which is presented downwardly, the upper ends of said upright posts respectively received in the respective ends of said hollow with said depending side walls and said depending end walls outside the outer sides of said upright posts, complemental wringer rolls mounted in said frame, separation between said rolls being normally resisted by said top-bar, and latching means between said lower frame part and an end wall of said top-bar comprising a resilient member having supporting connection with said lower frame part and located outside said lower frame part and said last-named end wall and located below the level of said top wall of said top-bar, said supporting connection supporting said resilient member on said lower frame part during latched relation and release relation of said latching means.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a frame comprising a lower frame part including end upright posts, and a top-bar between the upper ends of said upright posts. said top-bar having atop wall, depending side walls and depending end walls forming a hollow structure the hollow of which is presented downwardly, the upper ends of said upright posts respectively received in the respective ends of said hollow with said hollow top-bar, forming a canopy over the upper ends of said end upright posts, complemental wringer rolls mounted in said frame, separation between said rolls being normally resisted by said top-bar, latching means between said lower frame part and an end wall of said top-bar comprising a resil-' ient member having continuous connection 5 with said lower frame part and located outside said lower frame part and said lastnamed end wall and located below the level of said top wall of said top-bar, and a manual pivotally movable part having operative connection with said latching means and extending above said top wall for releasing said resilient member. a

6. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a frame comprising a status tionary part including end upright posts, a

top-bar between the upper ends of said upright posts, said top-bar having a top wall, sidewalls and end walls forming a hollow structure, the hollow of which is presented 2o downwardly as a canopy, the upper ends of said upright posts respectively received within the respective ends of said canopy, complementalwringerrolls mountedin saidframe,

5 separation between said rolls being normally resisted by said top-bar, an upwardly extending latch having continuous connection with said stationary frame part below said top-bar, one of said end walls of said topbar received between said latch and said upright post proximate thereto, said last-named end wall provided with a cooperating part cooperating with said latch, and a manually operated releasing part on said top-bar hav I ing coacting relation with said latch for releasing said latch from said end wall.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

, GUSTAVE H. JANTZV 

